Be greatfull...........

[sarasmelik]

This story was sent to me and I found it amazing---be greatful for what you have and thank you to all those who are overseas risking there life. I have a lot of family and friends out of the country and that is why this hits home for me because of the things they do.

True story


Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.

The complaint:
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:

Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?

Any response would be appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m. , a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured...

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you.....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

USAF


How ALL phones SHOULD be answered!



GOOD MORNING,
WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
............



And remember only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ




And the American Soldier




One died for your soul,




The other for your freedom.

[funnyboy]

Love it. When did we stop being thankful?????

[sarasmelik]

funnyboy not you I mean just in general!

[oshins]

Originally Posted by funnyboy

Love it. When did we stop being thankful?????

Perhaps not you... but the sentiment of the letter writer evidenced in the post is not uncommon.

I read something a ... well quite a while ago, but it was just part of a larger study. It was a word association variety that I honestly forget the context of its use, but the single result that I remember was this:
- Word Que: Sailor

The most Common Answer? Drunken. Not ship, not ocean...drunken.

Ouch.

So yes, while you may be grateful for the service we provide (or have provided), there are others who don't share your sense of gratitude.

peace

[funnyboy]

sarasmelik,

I understand...I was making a general observation on people these days and their lack of appreciation for the things that got us to where we are today. So many times our limited view makes us write stupid letters like the one above. I absolutely love the fact that they responded like this instead of some apology.

[funnyboy]

I also hope someone responds to this very often so it stays at the top and more people can read it.

[sarasmelik]

I know funnyboy! When I go back home where there isnt as many military or any for that matter the people there are so GUNG HO for sending more troops but dont know the pain or consequences that come with sending more and having them away from there family.
I think that if it doesnt have an affect on you personally or isnt right there in your front yard then we tend to brush it off. For example the earthquake in haiti what a horrible disaster that happened to that country. I wish I could fly there and help them find ppl or just tell them it will be okay but I can't all I can do is donate money, etc. That isnt in my front yard and has no affect on me personally because I dont know anyone there but if I were in that position how would you want to be treated and helped thats how I look at it!!
Just a thought

[handyGiraffe]

I have flown wing in one of those formations in honor of a very close friend..I can tell you what goes through the mind----->I can assure you the squadron mourning for that pilot had been handled long before that...And none of the pilots gave a rats ass what anyone shopping at Arrowhead Mall at 9 AM thought of the flyby....the lead was focused on the flight path and hitting the grave site at a precise hack time--- everyone else was focused on flying tight and doing it right...and depending on the formation one of the flight was waiting on the call for break from the lead and initiates it with a steep pull away from the formation to make the missing man......at 500 feet on speed with four jets in tight with tips in the canopies... it is all business...and a mall worker or late sleeper has the significance of an ant...

I agree with you Sara in that if you are not personally involved in these two wars we are actually fighting in....and have no dependent in danger of being drafted into one of them to have to fight it..it is easy to be GungHo...but if you have someone close to you that is being deployed it is a whole other story. As for who to thank...I think George Orwell said it best:

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

[funnyboy]

Bump just so people will continue to read this.

I have given up my first class seat to men and women in uniform in a small effort to show my appreciation and it pains me when others don't.

I read a thread on ASPD a few years ago where a man paid the $5/each ($50 total) to buy all the service people in uniform their meal on a flight. I cannot wait for the opportunity to do the same.

More importantly....I would just like to say THANK YOU!

[DRAGON210]

Amen and thank God for our men and women in uniform. I have family and friends proudly serving our country and would have given anything to do the same. Americans are so hypocritical and forgetful. 9/11 was a wake up for patriotism in America. Yet just a few years later we bash our military for protecting our freedom? I say every American who stands up and openly bashes our military should be given a first class ticket to the front lines. Let them walk a mile in our troops shoes and see how they feel then.

[darter]

Originally Posted by DRAGON210

Amen and thank God for our men and women in uniform. I have family and friends proudly serving our country and would have given anything to do the same. Americans are so hypocritical and forgetful. 9/11 was a wake up for patriotism in America. Yet just a few years later we bash our military for protecting our freedom? I say every American who stands up and openly bashes our military should be given a first class ticket to the front lines. Let them walk a mile in our troops shoes and see how they feel then.

Very well stated Dragon!

Thanks for posting this Sara, it never hurts to get a gentle nudge to make sure we never forget who the real heroes are.